Tuesday, 6th—We received orders to leave for Louisville, and drawing four days’ rations turned over to the general quartermaster our regimental teams and wagons. We expect to start in the morning. The Third Division of our corps started this morning, while the First Division left yesterday morning. The troops are leaving Washington as fast as the railroads can furnish cars; they even bring in all the open cars not in use and crowd the soldiers onto them until there is no standing room. Large numbers of soldiers have already left for their homes, while others are going to different cities to remain in camp for a while.
June 2015
5th. Another clear and beautiful day. Read “A New Atmosphere.” Game of whist. Passed the Cumberland and Tennessee in the night. The riding in the evening was delightful. Gathered on bow and sung.
June 5th. The anniversary of the battle of Piedmont. Thank God the cruel war is over. Playing ball, pitching quoits, helping the farmers, is the way we pass the time while waiting for orders to be mustered out. We have many friends in this town and vicinity. Helping in various kinds of work and also in the churches.
Chattanooga, Monday, June 5. All well. No drill. Orders from Mendenhall to graze from 9 A. M. till 5 P. M., an idea which is preposterous, as the horses would scatter over the whole state if not held. J. G. Simpson, officer of the day. His watch ran slow while in camp, and then it went a-whirring. Started out about 10 A. M., dinner in haversack, crossed the ridge, turned out in a delightful nook among the hills, shady and cool, ate our hard-tack by the cooling spring, and returned to camp by 2 P. M. Drew clothing. Hope it is the last time for me. Wrote two long letters. Am tired.
Monday, 5th—This forenoon we had a temperance speech by Wm. Roach of Iowa at the headquarters bivouac of the Eleventh Iowa. Blank pledges of the Washington Temperance Society were distributed and a good many of the boys signed the blanks after they were filled out.[1] The men mustered out from our division, the Fourth, started for their homes this afternoon. The Government furnishes them transportation to their home states.
[1] Mr. Downing was among the number.—Ed.
Sunday, 4th. Reached Louisville before noon. Overtook the Columbia. Our boat the Prima Donna. Slow time getting through the canal at Louisville. Columbia went over the falls. In evening had some music and rehearsal by Barnitz. Good.
June 4 — A preacher from Massachusetts preached for us to-day. Preaching is a good thing when it is well done and its axioms and truths are well adhered to and its injunctions practiced. I wish that some great minister would come along here and preach a kind of redemption that would have the potential effect of getting us away from here, for Death is still swinging its fatal scythe with a deadlier stroke in this patch than it does beyond these prison gates, and many a man in here to-day will go through the prison gate dressed in a coffin before we all get out.
The weather is warm now and in a favorable condition for the musical buzz of the green fly that is already busy at its favorite occupation of blowing everything that it sees which suits its taste. The fresh beef rations that we get are some days full of the little fly’s life-giving work neatly and evenly deposited in every little interstice throughout the ration, and so numerous, and too tedious to extract with any degree of satisfaction, that we eat the meat, fly-blow and all in conjunction, without any squeamish hesitation whatever, as this is no time nor place for the indulgence of bodily idiosyncrasy, fastidious appetite, or exquisite taste. Some of my comrades think that we might get the bots by eating hatchable fly-blow, but I know that I have eaten a thousand in the last month and I feel no sign of any bots yet.
Chattanooga, Sunday, June 4. Inspection 8 A. M. after which Griffith having a pass for three men to pass through the lines, D. J. D. and myself started out. Went by the 1st Cavalry camp which was about three miles down the valley, found Johnny and started forth along the ridge. Found many ripe blackberries and had all we wanted of ripe cherries from the “old man’s” orchard. Then we climbed the memorable ridge and followed the summit of Tunnel Hill. Then retraced our steps to camp. Passed Charlie’s artillery garden. Looks well, everything kept for the benefit of the shoulder straps of the reserve, though. The privates for whose benefit they claim to have started it, are forgotten. Left Johnny at the picket post, he to his command and we to ours. Reached camp by 5 P. M. somewhat tired but well satisfied with the ramble of the day. Cannot write to John, though. I am sorry.
Camp 1st H. A., June 4, 1865.
Dear Family:
We had inspection this morning. I had command of the Co. We have got a new State Color, a perfect beauty! We are waiting for a new national one from the government. The old ones, that stood the brunt of so many battles, are now almost in shreds and have been packed up ready to transmit to Adjt. Genl. of the state soon; if we are not soon to go home, in which case we shall carry them. The review of the corps came off. It was not as severe as we expected. Genl. Hancock looked admirably and rec’d cheers. The 6th Corps’ Artillery is coming in now, on a road to the left of us; the horses look played out, leaning against each other for support. Everyday we hear cheers in some camp regiment whose time is out in Oct. and now about to start for home. Candle light parades are beginning to be a great feature of military and camp illuminations. The scenes are beautiful to look at, but not so agreeable to participate in, grease not being an ornament to clothes. Clothing has just come, so I shall have to make larger letters or write faster to finish up. If it is a scrawl, my thoughts are all there, which is all that is required.
With love to all, Lev. B., Jr.
I presume that it is proper that you, Lizzie, should give away my photographs.
Sunday, 4th—We had company inspection this morning. The weather is very hot and we all remained close to our “ranches” today. We could not go to the city anyway, for without a pass it is difficult to get by the provost guard.
